The cabinet session on Wednesday is expected to tackle thorny issues with 69 articles on its agenda, local newspapers reported.

The most prominent issue is the energy ministry’s request to approve an agreement with Iran, which allows Tehran to provide Lebanon with 200-400 megawatts of electricity to resolve the country’s lingering power crisis.

The international community is exerting pressure on the Lebanese government to protect Syrian refugees and provide them with humanitarian assistance after the U.N. refugee agency said Monday that as many as 2,000 Syrians crossed into Lebanon over the last two days.

An Nahar daily said Tuesday that the international community has also asked Lebanese authorities not to hand over refugees to the Syrian regime if it asks for their repatriation because their lives could be under threat.

Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi was on Monday tasked with preparing a draft-law on the extra-budgetary spending made by the governments of ex-PMs Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri in 2006-2010, drawing the ire of the March 14 opposition which is demanding a comprehensive solution that would also include the adoption of a $5.9 billion 2011 spending bill.

After a meeting held at the parliament by Speaker Nabih Berri, PM Najib Miqati, and MPs Michel Aoun, Suleiman Franjieh, Mohammed Raad and Talal Arslan, Safadi was asked to prepare the draft-law for approval by the cabinet, which will later refer it to parliament.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali on Monday called on the Lebanese state to be “very strict” in controlling its border with his country and to prevent “the infiltration of gunmen” from Syria into Lebanon.

“There is a safe haven for extremist groups, which are being given several labels, and we urge the Lebanese state to pay attention to this safe haven,” Ali said, referring to Lebanese border towns in the North and the Bekaa provinces.

The Phalange Party called on the government on Monday to carefully follow up on the flow of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, warning of a “new form of naturalization” facing the country.

It said in a statement after its weekly politburo meeting: “A crisis committee should be formed to address the possible repercussions of the Syrian unrest on Lebanon.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Monday that his party will not “stoop so low as to respond to some thugs” who have recently criticized his positions on Syria.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Such slogans only reflect their political bankruptcy and their claims of defiance are really aimed at achieving Israeli goals.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Sunday that the longer the Syrian crisis lasts, the greater the chances of extremists coming to power should the current regime be overthrown.

He said: “Those fearing the rise of extremists should quickly end the Syrian crisis.”

President Michel Suleiman urged all parties on Monday to agree on the foundations that would lead to a solution to the dispute on extra-budgetary spending.

In a statement issued by Baabda palace, Suleiman said a resolution to the bickering should help state institutions continue their work in the service of the citizens.

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun accused March 14 lawmakers on Monday of “escaping” from the parliament despite a draft-law proposed by them to legalize extra-budgetary spending made since 2006.

In remarks from parliament, Aoun said: “Minority MPs have proposed an urgent draft-law but escaped” from the session which was adjourned due to lack of quorum.

The Lebanese navy rescued three brothers off the coast of the southern city of Tyre after they were stranded in their boat for eight hours, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

NNA identified the brothers as Mikhael, Jerjes and Metri Jouni.